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My battle with Acne = OVER
April 18, 2008 Posted in Body
I went from cracking jokes about Jessica Simpson’s ProActiv ads to wanting to be in my own acne treatment ad basically overnight. I never had acne problems as a teen. Even buying something as simple as face wash seemed like a foreign concept to me-after all, I had perfect skin. Of course I’d have the occasional tragic zit that would drive me up the wall — but that was as far as my derma-traumas were concerned.
Until I switched my birth control.
Once I switched my birth control my hormones went completely out of whack. A few months ago, after the switch, I started breaking out ALL OF THE TIME. I felt uncomfortable going outside without makeup on. As a singer, I didn’t want to be on stage. As a model on the side, I stopped showing up to interviews. I felt gross and about as far from pretty as a girl can possibly feel without having to be a D list Hollywood drunken starlet.
I wasn’t about to give in to a bleak marriage with acne. My skin’s future needed to be free and happy, not tied down to bullsh*t anxiety.
I finally got to that breaking point where I caved and decided I would try ProActiv-or something like it. Something like it is what I went with when I saw Acne Free at the drug store. It was right there in front of me and for much less than what I hear ProActive goes for (it was $20 for the package). I rationalized with myself for a while before the purchase.
“Elizabeth…you spent $20 at a bar on drinks in an hour. You can chance it for better skin…”
And so I did.
I have been using this stuff for about two weeks now and my skin is TOTALLY CLEAR. Sure, there are still a couple faint red marks from ugly skin past, but I’m confident now that those will clear up in time. I know that skin seems like such an unimportant topic, but it really was making me miserable.
Jessica Simpson may very well be a dim-witted alien, but I can’t blame the girl for speaking up with ProActiv. The only problem with her campaign, besides her, is the fact that one must ORDER ProActiv, and pay a lot more for it than Acne Free. If you’re struggling with acne, like I was, you might as well try it. It definitely worked for me. Now go crack jokes about me for endorsing a brand. I don’t care. ‘Cause my skin rocks now.
Anyone else have acne recommendations? Anyone else out there tried Acne Free?
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Natasha says:
Fri, 18th Apr 20088:21 am
Proactive worked wonders for me as well–for a few weeks. Turns out I was allergic to benzol peroxide and broke out in giant whelps instead of small zits. Since then I've been using the Murad system which is all based on salicylic acid and it's been amazing. I tried Neutrogena, medicines from my dermatologist, and nothing else came close.. so I highly recommend it. On the downside, its obnoxiously pricey, but if you can't use one of the others or find other products don't work for you.. 100% worth it.
kate says:
Fri, 18th Apr 20088:27 am
accutane =]
Meagan - Mizzou says:
Fri, 18th Apr 20088:55 am
I actually use AcneFree, but only the moisturizer. I use the Clean & Clear Morning Burst face wash and then follow it with that moisturizer while still in the shower stall (because your pores are still open and it is still steamy for the medicine to get to it).
The reason I don't use the whole system is because I have sensitive skin and the benzoyl peroxide dries me out. Before I realized that it was drying me out, however, it was working wonderfully.
Way to go and campaign for a brand that actually works! Good job!
CC says:
Fri, 18th Apr 20089:44 am
I have used everything under the sun. I tried ProActiv when I was in 7th grade and it worked for a few months, but then the breakouts came back more and more frequently. I went on prescribed medicine from my dermatologist, trying every pill and topical cream until there was nothing left except accutane. My brother had gone on accutane and it had bad psychological effects, not to mention I have a terrible fear of needles making it hard for me to give blood. My mom said no to accutane. I then tried AcneFree, which had the same exact results as ProActiv. Finally my sophomore year in high school, I went on birth control and it started clearing my skin up immediately. I am now on Yaz and take Minocycline whenever my skin acts up a lot. I use the SensiClear regimen that you may have seen on the Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency show-that has truly helped a lot. As a model, I can't have bad skin and it's nice to finally have something that works.
The problem with acne "solutions" is that they don't work for everyone. You have to spend time and money to find the products and combinations that work for you. Good luck on your clear skin journey!
Jessica - FSU says:
Fri, 18th Apr 20089:55 am
I have very sensitive, dry skin so I'm on a prescription regimen of Urea Cream and another ointment with a really long name that I couldn't begin to spell. I use a gentle face wash and cetaphil moisturizer and my skin is better than its ever been.
If you have really dry skin like I do, make sure you drink tons of water during the day and avoid hot showers. Also make sure to never, ever rub your skin. Pat it dry. Avoid harsh soaps and soaps with added chemicals. I suggest Dove unscented, Basis, or Purpose. Also, be careful with the moisturizer you choose. Stick with eucerin, cetaphil, aquaphor and CeraVe.
Charlene says:
Fri, 18th Apr 200812:45 pm
I used both AcneFree and ProActiv.. they both worked for a while and then it was like i was using nothing at all. I’ve now been on Clean&Clear Advance, the silver line and they’re awesome! I honestly cleared up a little overnight (Judging by a particularly nasty pimple on my cheek) and in 3 weeks I was good to go and it has kept up it’s now been like 3 months and I frikin love it.
Sarah says:
Fri, 18th Apr 200812:40 pm
As stated above kudos to you for promoting a skin care routine that works for you. As for me, after a horrific experience with Bare Minerals which resulted in my face breaking out in hives, I have been using Cetaphil cleanser and moisturizer for about three months now, and my skin looks great.
J - NYU says:
Fri, 18th Apr 20082:18 pm
I used Pro Active for about 2 years before I decided Neutragena did just about the same thing for half of the cost…
Nothing I have found can make my face COMPLETELY clear, however. Esp around my period…
Christine says:
Fri, 18th Apr 20082:23 pm
I have used so many different things for my skin, it's ridiculous.
I've heard that actually using yogurt helps, since the lactic acid in it helps clear pores. Also, I bought this Mint Julep Masque by Queen Helene that is quite wonderful and definitely helps clear my skin. And I get terrible acne sometimes.
Another thing I've tried is an aspirin mask. Seriously, just do some research on yogurt masks or aspirin masks and be intrigued. I suggest trying some of them if you are ever in serious need of a facial.
Janers says:
Fri, 18th Apr 20083:44 pm
READ THIS IF YOU TREASURE YOUR SKIN not looking BURNED OFF!!!
OMFG!!!!!
You've got to be kidding me? Seriously, I'm being punked, I have to be.
YESTERDAY, Honest to goodness,I had a BAD (and I mean horribly BAAAAAADDDDDD!) reaction to this stuff.
IT BURNED THE SKIN OFF OF MY FACE!
I have been using it for months, and all-of-a-sudden BAM! after my nightly wash face with mild soap and water routine, then dap on Acnefree
my skin started burning…
I endedup looking like a swollen blowfish BRIGHT FIRETRUCK RED! and my skin started peeling off horribly! Today my whole FACE LOOKS SOOOOOOO BAD. ='(
I am not joking.
I look like a fire accident survivor!
During the night, I had a nightmare that I was getting a bad sunburn, turns out in real life, my skin was being chemical burned off!!!
It had been working great, but it built up under my skin, and I had a delayed, long term exposure hyper-sensitivity to it!
My mom and I called the company, and this WAS NOT the first they had heard of this happening.
They said they would contact management and call me back before today,…still No call
great company
I say RUN while you still can, cause if I have scars/permanant redness I am suing!
This stuff might be, Too good to be true,
I thought it was a deal that worked miracles until yesterday!
RUNNNNN from this product while you can!
Hannah says:
Tue, 22nd Apr 200811:25 am
I actually have not tried AcneFree before, but I have a feeling that it would not work for me. I tried ProActiv a few years ago; my skin is so sensitive and ProActiv was just way too harsh for me. It literally made my skin HURT when I used it. Since AcneFree is basically a cheaper ProActiv, I never tried it. However, I went to the dermatologist back in December and he put me on Diferin cream and Minocin pills. I apply the cream every night and only take the pills when I have a breakout. For the first three months, my acne just got worse! I was so close to just giving up, but I stuck through and kept on using it. Last month however, my acne finally started getting better. I have no gotten a pimple in about three weeks now! If any of yall have sensitive skin that does not work with ProActiv, then I highly recommend Diferin!
Alissa says:
Wed, 23rd Apr 20085:01 am
I have tried AcneFree before, and the day after I used it for the first time, I had to tell everyone at school I'd been at the beach because I looked sunburned! Ridiculous.
I've also tried ProActiv, which I think would have worked had I not discovered that I too am allergic to Benzoyl Peroxide. Believe me, it's not a pretty sight.
Proactiv does have on product that I love however. It's their sulfur refining mask. Warning: your face will smell like rotten eggs for a while, but once I put my moisturizer on the smell is gone. I put a full mask on every morning before I get in the shower and my acne is literally clearing up before my eyes. Amazing.